Every fall, kids all over the country prep for their style Super Bowl: The first day of school! The first day ‘fit is an opportunity to try on a new style, whether that’s preppy, punk, sporty or sweet — or something entirely new. That’s why in this issue of NYT Kids, originally published Sept. 29, 2024, we went on the hunt for great outfits.

We visited 13 schools across five U.S. cities on their first days of classes, and talked to kids about what’s cool right now. Some trends were obvious: cargo pants, stacked bracelets, brightly colored hair, ’90s everything. But the biggest trend we found? Kids wearing whatever they like!

Plus:

• Comb the beach with a teen treasure hunter who’s tracking down lost Legos
• Find out why kids and adults are going wild for the W.N.B.A.
• Learn what school is like for kids with severe allergies
• And get some lunch inspo, with four recipes you can make and pack in a jar

Also inside: Election updates, mini crossword puzzles, comics, opinions, app recommendations and more!